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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: cap · current · vault · spell · perch · root · arm · file

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. current — of water
  4. file — a line of people
  5. current — happening now
  6. current — electric
  7. cap — a hat
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. root — of a plant
  11. cap — of ice
  12. spell — magic
  13. file — a tool
  14. vault — a safe
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. root — of a word
  17. perch — the fish
  18. spell — letters
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. cap — a lid
  22. spell — a short time
  23. root — the cause
  24. arm — part of the body

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com